Information

This page has links to a collection of publications and information about NSW legislation and this website, including factsheets and other legislative resources.

Parliamentary Counsel's Office (NSW drafting agency)

PCO Standard

The PCO Standard is a guide to legislative drafting in NSW, acting as both a style guide and a manual for drafters and editors. The objective of the document is to provide a collective base for legislative drafting resources in the office, ensure a consistent style is implemented by PCO for the NSW statute book and offer insight into PCO’s approach to drafting.

Version 1 of the PCO Standard was launched on 9 May 2023 to coincide with the opening of the 58th Parliament and can be downloaded here (1.9MB).

Particular legislation

• COVID-19 legislation

Unofficial legislation

• Consultation drafts

Publishing information

• Information for councils—LEPs where Council is the local plan-making authority (applicable from 3 May 2021)
• Miscellaneous statutory instruments—publishing requirements
• Notification—instruments drafted by PCO, including LEPs
• Notification—instruments not drafted by PCO
• NSW Government Gazette

How to read legislation

How to read a NSW Act

• What is a NSW Act?
• Types of NSW Acts
• Features common to all NSW Acts
• Structure of principal Acts
• Structure of amending Acts
• Aids to interpreting Acts
• Key to abbreviations

Guide to interpreting NSW legislation

How legislation is made

• Who writes NSW legislation?
• Types of NSW legislation
• Acts of Parliament
• Subordinate legislation
• Environmental planning instruments

Standard instrument local environmental plans

Accessing legislation

• Purchasing print-on-demand